Lawrence Dallaglio says Martin Johnson must have the right people around him if he wants to take up the new role of England team manager.
Johnson has been approached by the Rugby Football Union about taking the job despite his lack of experience.
"He was one of the best players, but does he have experience in a different role?" Dallaglio told BBC Sport.
"He could move seamlessly into the role if he's surrounded by people who have skills that he doesn't at the moment."
Dallaglio knows Johnson well, having played alongside him for England many times, and is well aware that few people can rival England's 2003 World Cup-winning captain, in terms of playing achievements.
"I feel sorry for the current coaching team because people are speculating about their jobs"
He won 84 England caps, 39 of them as captain, and is the only man to skipper the British and Irish Lions twice.
Under his leadership, Leicester won four straight Premiership titles between 1999 and 2002 as well as successive Heineken Cup triumphs in 2001 and 2002.
Coach Brian Ashton's position has been under scrutiny following England's inconsistent display at this year's Six Nations championship, and RFU director of elite rugby Rob Andrew is eager to appoint a team manager as part of a shake-up of the backroom team.
Dallaglio said he had sympathy with Ashton and his staff for the way their futures were being discussed in public.
"There's obviously been some sort of approach to Martin, but I feel sorry for the current coaching team because people are speculating about their jobs without them having any certainty about their future," he said.
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"It depends on what sort of terms the job has been offered to him, and if he has the experience to take it on.
"If you think with your heart, there's no doubt it's a job you'd want to take but if he thinks with his head, you've got to take that job on with the right mandate.
"Any successful coaching team comes from a chemistry between the coaches, everyone understands their role and everyone wants to work together.
"Since the end of the World Cup, England need to make some decisions and whatever it costs, just go out and get the very best people to do the job. At the moment I don't think they've done that."
There have been suggestions that England's "dream ticket" could see Johnson teaming up with Shaun Edwards, who is currently part of the Welsh coaching set-up.
Writing in his column in the Guardian, Edwards said he had only ever met Johnson socially so could not comment on his working ability, but did not think his lack of experience ruled him out of the equation for England.
"Can he do it? Absolutely, " wrote Edwards.
"It obviously matters that Martin Johnson hasn't managed a side before, as a little experience is always helpful.
"But if you had to pick a man to lead England - not coach them - then I see no problem."
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